Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

The following seems a means to resurrect the rule-from-the-center economic approach of the former Soviet Union involving for starters Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. If Putin does not seek a constitutional amendment to run for a third four-year term in 2008, I might look for him to establish a higher office incorporating the new union. -Am


Moscow, April 2 (VNA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his belief that the establishment of a common economic space is beneficial for the economies of both Russia and Ukraine.

During talks with visiting Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich in Moscow on Thursday, the Russian Head of State said this would create conditions for free movement of capital, goods and labour force.

Both sides agreed to hold the 10th session of the Russia-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Cooperation Committee late June in Moscow.-Enditem
http://www.vnagency.com.vn/NewsA.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=34&NEWS_ID=93288


Belarus committed to building union state with Russia

17.03.2004, 12.37

MINSK, March 17 (Itar-Tass) - Belarus is committed to the course on which it embarked 10 years ago to develop friendship, unification and build a Union with Russia, President Alexander Lukashenko declared during his meeting with Chairman of the State Duma, or the lower house of Russian parliament, Boris Gryzlov her on Wednesday.
Boris Gryzlov, for his part, stressed that the positions of the two countries on vital questions coincide. “The two friendly states and parliaments will continue to solve problems, thus advancing in their union building,” said Boris Gryzlov
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=556460&PageNum=0



KAZAKHSTAN TILTS TOWARDS RUSSIA

Ibragim Alibekov: 2/18/04

The primary catalyst for closer Kazakhstani-Russian ties was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s January visit to Kazakhstan. Since then, Kazakhstani and Russian officials have probed stronger ties in a variety of economic, strategic and even political areas.

At a late January conference on improving bilateral ties, for example Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Kassymzhomart Tokayev voiced enthusiasm about developing a joint space program. Tokayev and other officials also expressed a desire to formulate more efficient tariff policies to facilitate trade. These days, Kazakhstani policy-makers do little to hide a preference for dealing with Russia. "Kazakhstan and Russia are strategic partners and reliable allies," Oralbay Abdykarimov, chairman of Kazakhstan’s senate, said at the late January conference, titled Kazakh-Russian Interaction in the 21st Century and the Challenges of Globalization.
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav021804a.shtml